Muscle-testing machine.



A. A. BRODEUR.l

MUSCLE TESTING MACHINE..

APPLICATION FILI-3D DEO.26,1907.

929,281 Patented July 27, 1909.

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ifllllldt FFCFL 'L'USCLE-TESTING- BACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27', 1909.

Application filed December 25, 1907. Serial No. 408,176.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Anonimos it.. Bronnen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vforcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful lfluscle-'lest ingl llachinc, of which the following is a speriiication.

This invention relates to a machine for testing the muscles of the arm.

lt is designed to operate in such a manner as to test the strength of a persons arm when exerted to attempt to force the arm of another person down on a table or the like on which the elbows of both arms rest. ln order to accomplish this result the device is constructed with t shelf near which a shaft projects through from the inside of the niachine on which is mounted an operating device preferably constructed to represent a forearm and hand extending outwardly at an angle and in proper position for a test of the above mentioned character. The machine is provided with means whereby the application of force to turn the arm downwardly about the pivot about the center of the shaft as an axis will be resisted and the extent of motion will be indicated.

Further objects of the invention are to provide eilicient means for resisting this motion; and means for checking the reverse motion so that when the arm is released it will not ily back suddenly. Several features of the invention may be used independently of this particular kind of test mentioned above.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention, the lower part being broken away to show interior construction. Fig. 2 isl a rear view of the upper part thereof showing the indicating device, and Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view through the sheet on which the arm is mounted.

rlhe device preferably is constructed with a casing from which projects a shelf 11 at a convenient height. Supported in this casing in any convenient way as by means of a .frame 12 on which it is journaled is a shaft 13. At the front end of this shaft is an opening 14 through the casing through which the end of the shaft projects. F iXed to this end of the shaft is an operating` device or arm 15 shown as in the form of a representation of to bring' the hand thereof in contact with the end 1S of the shelf, which constitutes a limit for the saine, will result in turning the shaft 13. ln order to provide a proper resistance against this motion, the shaft is provided with an arm pivotally connected by a link 2l with a lever 22 pivoted on a plate 23 liner to the casing. This lever 22 is connected by a link Q4; with a lever 25 which is pivoted to a plate 2G also secured to the casing. A series of springs 27 are employed to resist the motion of the lever 25. These springs f: Jl l! preferably are secured to the bottom o1 the box or to any stationary object and are adjustably secured to the le fer as by means of nuts 28 or the like. rlhese sprinos also are preferably of varying strength from one end to the other, as indicated in the drawings by variations in the lengths of the springs.l lt will be obvious that any attempt to rotate the arm 15 will result in stretching these springs and will be yieldingly resisted by them. In order to prevent the arm from being forced back rapidly after pressure is released from it, the outer 'end of the lever Q2 is pivotally connected with a piston-rod 8O carrying a piston, (not shown) in a cylinder 31 constituting a dash-pot or check for the return motion of the arm. This cylinder 31 may be filled with oil or other liquid to make its operation more uniform.

ln order to register the motion of the arm 15 the shaft 13 is provided with another arm 83 which is adjustably connected with a lilik 34 by means of -a bolt 35 and nuts 86. The link Se' is provided with a rack 350 at its upper end engaging a pinion 360 on a shaft 37 which carries a ratchet-wheel 38. A pivoted.

pawl 39 is located in such position as to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and may be forced into engagement with these teeth in any desired way. In the form shown, gravity alone is depended upon for this purA pose. This pawl is provided with a. projecting rod Ll0 which the upper end of the rack 350 engages on the upward motion thereof to release the pawl from the ratchet-wheel and permit a spring 41 with which the shaft is l2 with which it is provided back to Zero on t ie dial i3 with which the front of the casing is provided and over which 'the pointer moves to indicate the amount of motion of the shaft 13. Y

am aware that the invention may be carried ont in many other forms than that shown by any person skilled in therart witharting from the scope of the invenressed in the claims.

thus describediny invention what n muscle 'testing machine, the combii ion of casing, an arm Vextending outvfardly from the front thereof and adapted to oscillate on an axis from a vertical to a l izontal position, yielding means for reing the oscillation of the arm in one direetion, and a shelf projecting from the casin a plane at about the height of the s on which the arm oscillates in position he path of the end of the arm to limit the motion of the arr muscle tee ing machine having a casing, and operating means in the form of the representation of a iuman forearm and hand projecting therefrom and adapted to turn about an axis, and a shelf projecting from the front of the easing under said operating means., and in the path of the hand, whereby said shelf serves as a stop for the hand and as a rest for the elbow of the operator.

tn a muscle testing machine the combination of a casing having a substantially vertical front, an arm extending outwardly from the front thereof, and osci'llatable on a horizontal axis, yielding means for resisting nrovided to turn the shaft and the pointer Y witnesses.

the oscillation of the arm, and a horizontalV shelf projecting'from the front ofthe casing below the arm and in position to support the elbow of the operator when turning the arm with his hand. Y

et. ln a muscle testing machine, the `combination of a shaft, an arm thereon for operating it, a pivotal lever independent of the shaft, means'conneeting the lever with said shaft whereby the lever will be moved about its pivot when the shaft is turned, means for resisting'the said motion of the lever, and means connected with thelever for checking its motion in the opposite direction.

5. In a testing machine, the combination of a shaft, means for turning the shaft, a pivoted lever, a link connecting the shaft with said lever, a second pivoted lever, a link connecting the second lever with the first lever, and springs arranged along the second lever at varying distances from the fulcrum for resisting the motion of the second lever.

6. In a testing machine, the combinationV of a shaft, means for turning the shaft, aV

pivoted lever, a link connecting the shaft with said lever, a second pivoted lever conne-ctel therewith, springs for resisting the motion of the second lever, and a cylinder having a piston therein vconnected with the first lever for checking its motion in one direction.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing ALCIBlADE A. BRODEUR. lVit-nesses i A. FAY,

C. F. lVnssoN. 

